The Washington critic., 1887-01-03

Sherman would have been more clearly |
understood. 1t Is stated In Sherman's |
memoirs that the appointment of
General Howard to succeed Mcpherson
in command of the Army of the Tea.
ncsscc was based upon the ground that
10th Logan and Blair were regarded
more as politicians than rs professional
soldiers, aud TO. This reason were mis-
trusted by tho regular officers. So
that although General sherman had
recommended Log0n's appointment, II
was finally settled, In conference with
General Thomas, thut the command be
given to Howard.
1t now appears from the CORE
spondence printed in The New York
7riHHc yesterday, ON General Sher-
mans authority, that shortly after the
banquet given to Sherman on the Sth
of February, 1888 In anticipation of
his retirement and at which he was
elouuently eulogizod by General Logan
Sherman addressed letter to the
Illinois Senator acknowledging the
compliment paid him, and also taking
occasion, for old friendships sake and
in the interest Of fair play, to explain
tie reasons for Towards appointment,
understanding that General Logan felt
hurt by the language used by Sherman
in his Memoirs touching this matter.
lie states that it did trouble him at
the time TO have his corps command
crs serving two distinct causes, one mil.
itary and the other civil or political"
ard reminds Logan that he went TO
Illinois more than once TO make
speeches and was so absent after the
capture of Atlanta and until the occupa-
lion of Savannah. lie believed then
that he did the best practicable thing in
nominating Howard, and admits tina!
he was strongly influenced by Thomas.
To this letter General Logan replies
February IS, 1888, and informs Gen
cral Sherman that had he fully under
stood the situation, he would not have
censured him for the part he took in
political contests at home. He says;
In 1868, when went home TO canvass IN
Illinois, and to help In Ohio General Grant
was fully advised, and knows that although
] had to make application for leave of ab-
sence, did not do It Of my own volition,
but at the request of those high In author
ity. So when left on leave, after the At
lanta campaign, 10 canvass for Mr.. Lin
coin, did 1t al the special aud private re-
quest Of the then President, This kept to
myself and have never made itpublic, nor
do | propose to do so now, but feel that |
may in confidence say this to you, that you
may see what prompted my action in the
premises. | have borne for this reason
whatever may have suffered by way of
criticism, rather than turn criticism on the
dead.
This explains the whole matter.
Through all these years he had patiently
borne with Shorman's criticisms and
whatever misapprelensions Of his mo
tivcs they had given rise TO, until o
fitting opportunity for vlndicatlng him
self was presented, and even then he
desired the secret to 90 no further. 1t
is unfortunate, perhaps, that he should
not have sooner communicated the
facts to Sherman, that he might not be
historically niireprosented; but it is
none the less to his credit as 1t is.
Now that General Logan is dead, hav-
ing followed Grant and Lincoln to
Famc's eternal camping ground, "
and the obligation of confidence, which
he so strictly enjoined, has been re-
moved, General Sherman makes haste
odo that justice to the dead which for
lack of proper information he failed to
do in 1868, which for the same reason
was not done In his "Memoirs," " and
which because of General Logau's
chivalric injunction of secrecy, he had
been unable TO do since 1888.
THE weekly Review of Trade, -
issued by II. G. Dan & Co. of New
York on New Years Day, begins in
this WISE Rarely has year opened
with greater disheartenment than the
year 1886. Rarely has a year closed
with more confidence. The dlshearten-
ment was not wholly justified, and
there is some reason TO fear that the
confidence may be partly unwar.
rGnted.' Further on it says: Trad
duIing the past half year has been very
large, an1 generally yrcnuneraliye. Thl
prevailing tendency is to cnuul upon O
continued enlargement for the ueSl
season, and it would be wise pot t.
forget that II is possible to build toc
largely on the future, even in time oi
real and healthy improvement" Thi
inference is that while we may hop,
for the best the best IS not much t,
hope for. There is too much moue,
lying idle in the Treasury and to.
much of n disposition to pay bond
with it, instead Of appropriatlng it t,
absolutely needed works Of public i'm
provement.
THE new almanac5 advertise a to,a
eclipse of the sun to take place on tn
18th Of August next, which will BE- Ia
visible it, the United States, but conve
niently observable at various points Il
Europe, the line of totalily passln,
through Berlin Congress ought Il
make an ample appropriation for tn
observation of this phenomenon b,
American astronomers. 1t is a It'll
matter of legislation, the consideration
Of which cannot be postponed to th
next Congress without grave chrO
nological error.
"AN OLD OBSERVED" in the Ne7
York Sun, whose principal employ
ment appears 10 be the suggestion o
Presidential candidates for that paper
considers Allen G.. Thurman tn